Master of Nursing (MN) Program

The Master of Nursing (MN) program focuses on providing high quality preparation for advanced clinical nursing practice with individuals, families, and communities. Students complete their studies in an academic environment that values the application of research to improve health and quality of life. Graduates are well prepared for evidence-based nursing practice as they assume the clinical, research, leadership, collaborator, and educator roles of the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner.

This program is offered using a combination of on-site and distance education strategies on a full-time and part-time basis in collaboration with a consortium of Ontario Universities. The completion time is normally 2 years for full-time students and 3-4 years for part-time students. Applicants who hold an extended class licence with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CN0) may apply to complete the MN program in only 4 terms of full-time study.

The goals of the program are:

1. To facilitate leadership in the:

  • Development of in-depth understanding of a selected aspect of nursing science
  • Analysis and integration of theory and research from nursing and related disciplines as a basis for enhancing understanding of significant issues
  • Valuing of differing approaches to knowledge development in the nursing discipline
  • Engagement in research inquiry that is significant to the nursing discipline
  • Upholding of principles of ethical inquiry in advancing knowledge in the discipline of nursing
  • Evolution of health care and health policy through the use of research findings and the development of collaborative partnerships

2.    To facilitate students’ ability to:

  • Provide competent care to individuals, families, and communities
  • Analyze theories, models, concepts, and frameworks from advanced nursing practice I
  • Integrate theories, models, concepts, and frameworks from advanced nursing practice 
  • Incorporate principles of evidence-based practice 
  • Contribute to knowledge development for the role of PHC NP 
  • Practice in the PHCNP role in an ethical and legal manner

There are three options offered within the MN program:

  1. Full Program: For BScN-prepared nurses seeking graduate degree and NP certificate
  2. Accelerated Program: For nurses with NP-PHC extended class licence seeking a graduate degree
  3. Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate: For nurses with a graduate degree seeking NP-PHC certificate (Graduates who obtain NP certificate with or without the MN graduate degree are eligible to write the NP-PHC licensing examination)

Western provides the best student experience among Canada's leading research-intensive universities.